Fingerprint recognition apparatus with automatic finger contact sensing function

ABSTRACT

A fingerprint recognition apparatus is provided. A user&#39;s finger brings into contact with both a fingerprint recognition module and a touch switch conductor by installing the touch switch conductor on the front surface of the fingerprint recognition module. By signal generated from the touch switch conductor sensing the user&#39;s finger without any preliminary action, a power-supplying unit supplies a power to the fingerprint recognition module. Therefore, the fingerprint recognition apparatus is simplified in its use.

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, andclaims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, and § 365 frommy application FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION APPARATUS WITH AUTOMATIC FINGERCONTACT SENSING FUNCTION filed with the Korean Industrial PropertyOffice on 19 May 2001 and there duly assigned Serial No. 2001-0014707,and my International Application entitled FINGERPRINT RECOGNITIONAPPARATUS WITH AUTOMATIC FINGER CONTACT SENSING FUNCTION filed on 13Mar. 2002 and duly assigned Serial No. PCT/KR02/00433.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fingerprint recognition apparatus,and more particularly to a fingerprint recognition apparatus, in whichlocks installed on doors of buildings, cars or depositories are openedby a user's fingerprint without keys or passwords of button devices.

BACKGROUND ART

As well known to those skilled in the art, keys or button devices havebeen used to open the locks. However, if the keys are lost by thecarelessness of the user or fraudulently used by others, the locks maybe opened. Further, in case of the button devices, the passwords may beexposed to others by any corrosion or traces by salinity of the user'sfinger. Alternatively, when the passwords are inputted by the owner,they may be easily exposed to others.

Therefore, a fingerprint recognition apparatus has been recentlyintroduced. Specific user's fingerprint data are inputted and stored asreference data on memory of the fingerprint recognition apparatus. Afingerprint recognition module is operated by pressing a start button.After then, the user's finger contacts the fingerprint recognitionmodules. Thus, the user's fingerprint is recognized. If the user'sfingerprint is identified with the reference data stored in the memory,the lock is opened.

However, this conventional fingerprint recognition apparatus hasdrawbacks as follows.

The fingerprint recognition process includes two steps, e.g., a step ofsupplying the power to the fingerprint recognition module by pressingthe start button and a step of fingerprint's contacting the fingerprintrecognition module. That is, the start button should be pressed, therebyresulting in user's troublesomeness.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made to in view of the aboveproblems. An object of the present invention is to provide a fingerprintrecognition apparatus, which simplifies the fingerprint recognitionprocess. In the fingerprint recognition apparatus, a touch switchconductor is installed on the front surface of a fingerprint recognitionwindow of a finger recognition module, thereby bring the user's fingerinto contact with both the print recognition module and the touch switchconductor at the same time. Therefore, without the pressing of the startbutton, a power supplying unit supplies a power to the fingerprintrecognition module by a signal generated from the touch switchconductor, which already recognized the user's finger. Thereby, thefingerprint recognition process is simplified.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objectscan be accomplished by the provision of a fingerprint recognitionapparatus comprising: A fingerprint recognition module with afingerprint recognition window; a controlling circuit for controllingthe fingerprint recognition module; a power supplying unit for supplyinga power; a housing; a finger insertion hole exposed to the front surfaceof the housing; and a touch switch circuit for recognizing the finger'sinsertion into the finger insertion hole and generating a recognitionsignal. The fingerprint recognition module is installed in the housingso that the fingerprint recognition window is exposed to the fingerinsertion hole. The controlling circuit makes the power supplying unitto supply the power to the fingerprint recognition module in reply tothe recognition signal.

Preferably, an extrusion may be extruded from the lower surface of thefinger insertion hole and a conductor of the touch switch circuit may beformed on the upper surface of the extrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fingerprint recognition apparatus inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fingerprint recognitionapparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fingerprint recognitionapparatus in use in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a fingerprint identification process inaccordance with the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fingerprint recognition apparatus inaccordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional viewof the fingerprint recognition apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a fingerprint recognition apparatus includesa fingerprint recognition module with a fingerprint recognition window,a controlling circuit for controlling the fingerprint recognitionmodule, a power supplying unit for supplying a power; a housing, afinger insertion hole exposed to the front surface of the housing, and atouch switch circuit for recognizing the finger's insertion into thefinger insertion hole and generating a recognition signal. Thefingerprint recognition module is installed in the housing so that thefingerprint recognition window is exposed to the finger insertion hole.The controlling circuit makes the power-supplying unit to supply thepower to the fingerprint recognition module in reply to the recognitionsignal.

Preferably, an extrusion may be extruded from the lower surface of thefinger insertion hole and a conductor of the touch switch circuit may beformed on the upper surface of the extrusion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fingerprint recognitionapparatus in use in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 4 isa flow chart showing a fingerprint identification process in accordancewith the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a finger insertion hole 12 is exposedto the front surface of a housing 20 of the fingerprint recognitionapparatus 1. A fingerprint recognition module 10 is installed so that afingerprint recognition window 11 is exposed to the finger insertionhole 12. An extrusion 24 is formed on the lower surface of the fingerinsertion hole 12. A touch switch conductor 22 is formed on the uppersurface of the extrusion 24. When a user's finger contacts thefingerprint recognition window 11, the touch switch conductor 22recognizes the finger and sends signal to a touch switch circuit 23.Then, a controlling circuit 14 makes a power supplying unit 16 to supplya power to the fingerprint recognition module 10. The fingerprintcontacting the fingerprint recognition window 11 is transmitted to thecontrolling circuit 14 via the finger recognition module 10. Then, thetransmitted fingerprint data are compared with a user's fingerprint database 30 and judged. After this judgment, a corresponding output signalis generated. According to the output signal, a lamp 24 a or 24 bindicating OK or ERROR is lighted and a locking device 40 is operated. Alamp 24 c indicating ON/OFF of the fingerprint recognition apparatus isformed on a side of the lamps 24 a and 24 b.

As described above, the touch switch conductor 22 of the presentinvention is formed on the front extrusion 20 of the fingerprintrecognition module 10. Therefore, the user's finger contacts thefingerprint recognition module 10 and is simultaneously recognized bythe touch switch conductor 22, thereby supplying the power to thefingerprint recognition module 10 and reducing the user'stroublesomeness.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fingerprint recognitionapparatus, which can recognize the user's fingerprint without anypreliminary action by installing the touch switch conductor on the frontsurface of the fingerprint recognition module.

1. A fingerprint recognition apparatus comprising: a fingerprintrecognition module with a fingerprint recognition window; a controllingcircuit for controlling said fingerprint recognition module; a powersupplying unit for supplying a power; a housing; a finger insertion holeexposed to the front surface of said housing; and a touch switch circuitfor recognizing the finger's insertion into said finger insertion holeand generating a recognition signal, wherein said fingerprintrecognition module is installed in said housing so that said fingerprintrecognition window is exposed to said finger insertion hole, and saidcontrolling circuit makes said power supplying unit to supply the powerto said fingerprint recognition module in reply to said recognitionsignal; an extrusion is extruded from the lower surface of said fingerinsertion hole, and a touch switch conductor is formed on the uppersurface of said extrusion in a manner that the touch switch conductor issimultaneously touched by a finger whenever the finger touches thefingerprint recognition window.
 2. A fingerprint recognition apparatuscomprising: a housing having a flat surface; a fingerprint recognitionwindow formed on the flat surface of the housing; a fingerprintrecognition module disposed inside the housing, the fingerprintrecognition module being coupled to the fingerprint recognition window;a controlling circuit disposed inside the housing, the controllingcircuit controlling the fingerprint recognition module; and a touchswitch circuit disposed inside the housing, the touch switch circuitrecognizing an insertion of a finger and sending a recognition signal tothe controlling circuit; a touch switch conductor formed on the flatsurface of the housing next to the fingerprint recognition window in amanner that the touch switch conductor is simultaneously touched by afinger whenever the finger touches the fingerprint recognition window;the touch switch conductor coupled to the touch switch circuit; thetouch switch conductor recognizing the finger and sending a signal tothe touch switch circuit; and a power supplying unit coupled to thecontrolling circuit, the power supplying unit supplying power to thefingerprint recognition module whenever the controlling circuit receivesthe recognition signal.
 3. The fingerprint recognition apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, comprised of the housing having a finger insertionhole on a front surface; the finger insertion hole having a side wall;the flat surface of the housing formed on the side wall of the fingerinsertion hole.